Benefits Of Owning A Dog
Are you looking for the Benefits Of Owning A Dog? If yes, then you reached the right place. In this article, we will delve in to science based facts about owning a dog.
Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.
You can consider adopting a dog for various reasons, whether you can't resist a lovely puppy's face or simply want some companionship. There are many other reasons that owning a dog is beneficial to our lives.
According to the 2022 Animal Medicines Australia's national survey , Dogs and cats have led this sustained growth in pet ownership. Consistent with previous AMA surveys, dogs have remained the most popular pet, with almost half of Australian households having at least one dog (48%, up from 40% in 2019). Cats continued to be Australia’s second most popular pet, with a third of all households housing at least one feline friend (33%, up from 27% in 2019).
Companionship tends to be the number one reason for getting a dog (52%), regardless of its breed - followed by mental health benefits (23%). But what are the other benefits of owning a dog?
Science-Based Benefits of Having a Dog
Read on for 5 science-backed benefits of owning a dog.
1. Dogs make us feel less alone
Dogs can be there for you when people can't. They provide unconditional love, emotional support, and constant cuddling, which help to prevent social isolation. A modest Australian study revealed that owning a dog lessens loneliness.
According to a national poll of pet owners and non-pet owners conducted by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, 85 percent of respondents felt that interacting with pets lowers loneliness. Most people agree that human-pet interactions can help with social isolation.
Doggy cuddles
2. Dogs help us cope with crisis
Dogs assist us in recovering psychologically from a crisis. Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine discovered that having a service dog helps military veterans with PTSD physically and psychologically. Veterans with service dogs had fewer PTSD symptoms and better coping skills.
Just looking at a dog can make you happy: a 2009 Japanese study discovered that staring into your dog's eyes increases your level of oxytocin, popularly known as the "love hormone." Aside from the usual health benefits of dog ownership, dogs are natural mood boosters. According to a 2017 study, those with mental health issues who own a pet are less likely to suffer from despair.
3. Dogs make us more social
Walking with a canine companion can make us more approachable and provide a topic for conversation. Consider how often you've spoken with others, whether they're your neighbors or new acquaintances from the dog park.
2. Dogs make us happier
Researchers discovered that approximately 40% of dog owners had an easier time making acquaintances. Dogs are an excellent way to meet new people and create new friendships.
4. Dogs encourage you to move
Long walks on sidewalks, trails and paths add up. According to a 2019 British study, dog owners are roughly four times more likely to meet daily physical activity guidelines than non-dog owners. Every week, dog owners spend approximately 300 minutes walking their dogs. That's 200 minutes more walking than folks who don't have a dog.
Family walking dog
5. Dogs are so adorable they make us love them
There's a reason puppies are so appealing: their facial characteristics have a "infant schema." In humans, these "social releasers" elicit an instinctive caretaker reaction. So, the next time you can't get enough of that puppy video, remember that those huge eyes and floppy ears are scientifically enticing.
Health Benefits of Owning a Pet
Read on for six benefits of owning a dog that may help you stay healthier and happier.
1. Pets Promote Social Connectedness
Having a dog brings you outside daily, where you'll naturally socialize and engage with your neighborhood. Pets, for example, can serve as social icebreakers, according to Nancy R. Gee, Ph.D., a psychiatry professor and the Bill Balaban Chair in Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. "For many, pets serve as social capital in neighborhoods and communities," adds Dr. Gee. "They precipitate the exchange of favors and encourage civic engagement."
2. Dogs Can Help Boost Your Physical Activity
Dog owners are familiar with the scenario. There is one thing you must do as soon as you wake up: take the dog out to do his business. Simply, your dedication compels you to exercise your body.
"Many owners who would otherwise do little or no physical activity, despite the recommendations of their physicians, end up getting quite a bit of exercise simply by caring for, playing with, and walking their dogs," says Mark Fierstein, MD, an internal medicine specialist at NYU Langone Health in New York City. (He adds that cat owners are not in the same category.)
3. Pets can reduce stress and anxiety
Spending time with a pet can improve our mental health, and studies show that caressing a dog can lower stress levels*. After all, they are with us through major life events and our day-to-day ups and downs.
Pets or therapy animals introduced into healthcare settings such as hospitals and nursing homes can help alleviate depression and anxiety in the elderly. They can also help with healing and keep individuals company when lonely.
4. Pets can help us cope with a crisis
Our pets may truly assist us in getting through a crisis or personal trauma such as grief, in addition to offering everyday support with health and happiness.
We all go through difficult moments, but our animal pals are always there to make us feel better. Indeed, studies have indicated that service dogs can aid in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
5. Home and Personal Security
Dogs are devoted and devoted. You will not find a better companion. They miss you when you're gone and are always glad to see you when you return.
The affectionate relationships between owners and their dogs are unique and last a lifetime. Whatever happens to you in the human world, your dog will always unconditionally adore you.
6. Dogs help you stay active
Man's best friend frequently needs to run and play to be healthy and active, necessitating dog owners to engage in some type of physical activity with them. Even if you don't consider physical activity with your dog good exercise, you can still view this leisure time as beneficial to your health. Research in Western Canada discovered that men and women who frequently took their canine friends out walked for about 300 minutes each week, compared to non-dog owners who only exercised half as much.
Happy dog, happy owner
Playing catch with your dog with a stick or a ball might raise your heart rate and help you burn calories. Many dog owners report that their dog has helped them spend more time outside and lose weight.
Keeping the whole family healthy, pets included
Getting a dog is a long-term commitment, and if you're on the fence, consider how many aspects of your life can be improved by bringing a four-legged buddy into your house. But remember that dog ownership is more than just buying dog food now and then. Pet ownership takes time and demands a genuine dedication to the animal. You must keep your dog safe and healthy.
